Flying Scotsman

I'd say thats a given! My own thoughts on Scotsmans relaunch would be to do somthing like Clarkson did on Top Gear celebrating the 'E' type Jag. We all know what the wethear can be like in February so lets do have it in May or June, lets have a 42 piece orchestra, lets have a flypast from both the BBMF and the Red Arrows, lets have the RAF Falcons parachute display team, lets have 60163 and 60009 to greet it with a cacaphony of whistles. Get all the press there and let everyone know about it, somthing like this could do somthing similer to Tornado so lets make it a ruddy big party!!

 

And you're paying for all that are you?................

As far a tunes go - how about Saxon - Wheels of Steel, or Tull's Locomotive Breath?

 

Or Saxon's Princess of the Night

 

Well when you've spent that much on an overhaul you wouldnt want it to be a low key launch would you?

 

Or Autobahn by Kraftwerk, to reflect it's recent role as celebrity lorry load...

Tom (Ducks and runs for cover ...)

 

So. you've got the wedge then?........ bet you haven't told the Mrs you're shelling out for all that....... ..... does the NRM know?....... I'm sure they'll be really pleased you're stumping up for it!

 

I never said I was paying for it! Seriously though Dave (see what I did there?) Im just trying to make the point that rather than relaunch it on a dank February day do it late spring early summer and make a it a special occasion. Get the young kid (who's not so young now!) who did the swimathon for it to rename it. It's supposed to be an Iconic piece of whats great about britain so make it a day to remember. I am probley going a bit OTT I realise it wouldnt be cheap to do as I've suggested but better to aim for the stars than the gutter.

 

I do not resent the cost of this overhaul. True some people made some very costly errors, so do people in many other walks of life. At least doctors can bury their mistakes and as to them being found out.........
Just consider how many good people had some work because of this. How many people developed their skills. Then as an individual or group responsible for a locomotive, just consider the lessons learned.
And I suppose that if your loyalties lie to the West just remember that two black fives could have benefited from the work carried out too. Expensive? Depends what you compare and contrast it with.
The launch of the A3 will probably make more money than it costs if all factors are taken into consideration.

 

Don't worry - I'll pay. Keep the suggestions coming.

 

So, you're broke then?....... but the NRM's already sent you the bill.

As for "reaching for the stars"..........you're on one serious flight of fancy - either that, or you've not been taking your medicine again have you?.......

Seriously though, Scotsman IS the star of the show, and does not need any kind of fanfare!

You wait until she hits the mainline - there wont be an empty vantage point along any route she travels.

 

Dave I know what your saying. What I've just suggested is an Idea! Im not saying it should happen BUT there is a rather nice fellow called Branson who gave a few quid towards Scotsman back in 2005. Im sure if he had a few whispers in his ear he'd dust his kilt off again. We all know he likes his face in the papers and it also helps his new trainset passes the NRM. Either way it'd be a lot cheaper than bringing back 2 A4's from America!

 

I'll re launch it for the price of a couple of pints (and a bottle of Irn-Bru for Mr Riley).

 

Marvellous! A splendid piece of music. I'd go for that one, although if you want some other classical suggestions, there is "Pacific 231" by the Swiss composer Arthur Honegger (1892-1955) which is supposedly meant to imitate the sound of a steam loco. Alternatively, something by Dvořák would be appropriate (opening of Symphony No. 8, last movement springs to mind - a trumpet fanfare.) I say this as he was keen on trains and on one occasion gave his servant a ticking off as he had sent him down to the station at Prague to write down the numbr of a steam loco which was working a particular train and the servant wrote down instead the works number instead of the loco's number. (I did learn some interesting facts thanks to being taught music "A" level by a fellow railway enthusiast!)

 

Dosnt count if you send your staff out to do your spotting for you!

 

A returning Ffestiniog Jazz special was sent off from Tan y Bwlch with "The Runaway Train Went Down The Hill". I'll swear that it was the fastest return to Porthmadog that I have known.

 

I can go along with that.

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/iRK6U5vIHCs

Kate Rusby: Village Green Preservation Society

 

I noticed yesterday that there was another update at the end of August. A short and sweet update, but it's looking good:

http://www.flyingscotsman.org.uk/see/photos.aspx

Kind regards,
Chris

 

Lets just keep our fingers crossed!

 

Proposed events for 2016 here .... http://www.flyingscotsman.org.uk/scotsman-season.aspx